University Business Cuts Downtime, Minimises Risk Using TechNet Plus Subscription “The Microsoft TechNet Plus newsgroups are extremely helpful. Not only do Microsoft- certified people give advice, but thousands of IT professionals like me contribute because they’re keen to help others. If there’s a problem I can’t solve, I can get an answer from the community in minutes.” Alex Chan, IT Officer, Windows STARS IT Services, Directorate of Sport, Trading, and Residential Customer Services, The University of Manchester Directorate of Sport, Trading and Residential Services, The University of Manchester The Directorate of Sport, Trading, and Residential because we know exactly what we’re buying. The

Services (STARS) at The University of Manchester is reduction in cost, in terms of resources and time, is Web Site responsible for student residences, catering, phenomenal because TechNet Plus allows me to find www.manchester.ac.uk/sta marketing, sales, and events at the university. STARS solutions to problems a lot faster. We’re currently rs IT Services also supports 15,000 students using the using TechNet to plan our IT environment for the next

Halls of Residence Network (Hornet), an Internet three years using the Windows Server® 2008 Country or Region service provided to residents within managed student operating system for core networking, Web, and United Kingdom accommodation. directory services.” Number of Employees The directorate has an annual turnover of nearly £50 Chan also takes advantage of the community features 800 million and employs 800 people. The STARS IT on the site. He says: “The Microsoft TechNet Plus Services team’s goal is to provide fully integrated IT to newsgroups are extremely helpful. Not only do Industry the university’s students and staff, ensuring customer Microsoft-certified people give advice, but thousands Education satisfaction by deploying the latest technology. of IT professionals like me contribute because they’re keen to help others. If there’s a problem I can’t solve, I Benefits Alex Chan, IT Officer, Windows STARS IT Services, can get an answer from the community in minutes.” . Minimised risk says: “I work in a team of six people, so we have to . Cost saving plan carefully. We maintain a range of business-critical In addition, Chan says: “Blogs are a great way of . Access to specialist applications—from networking services to file servers feeding information back into the community to aid resources —and we can’t afford any downtime. We need support future development.” . Better planning systems to help us solve problems quickly.” . Answers always available Another benefit for Chan is the availability of e- . Improved skills In 2007, Chan took out a subscription to Microsoft® learning courses. “There are videos with step-by-step . Peace of mind TechNet Plus: “I knew about TechNet Plus from a instructions on how to use different applications, so I

previous job, and I realised it could help the team at no longer need to go through hundreds of pages of Software and Services STARS,” he says. instruction manuals. And, because it’s all online, I can Services learn whenever it suits me.” . Microsoft TechNet Plus Chan quickly began using the service to evaluate Microsoft Server Product software. He says: “I can access unrestricted copies of With two free technical support calls included in the Portfolio nearly any Microsoft product instantly. Before, I had to subscription, TechNet Plus also gives Chan peace of . Windows Server 2008 go through a long requisition process to buy physical mind: “We save the support calls for emergencies, but copies of software, but now I can immediately we haven’t needed to use them yet. We couldn’t live download and evaluate any product. It saves a huge without TechNet Plus though—it’s like another amount of time and paperwork, and we minimise risk member of the team now.”

This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.

Document published December 2008 This case study is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS SUMMARY.

Document published December 2008